I first learned that I loved travel on the first trip I ever planned by myself. To celebrate graduating from college, I designed a month-long trip through Europe with my best friend. Together, we heard Big Ben chime in London, climbed the Eiffel Tower in Paris, marvelled at the beautiful canals in Amsterdam, and dined on the most amazing pasta and wine in Rome.
Upon returning home I was hooked and all I could think of was planning my next trip to wherever I could manage. What followed over the years were solo trips through every continent, but it was backpacking through Thailand and India that cemented my love for Asia as a region.
When I got the opportunity to visit Japan for a month I jumped at the chance and I was not disappointed. There are truly no words to describe how much Japan feels like another world altogether, from the relaxing natural hot-springs, to the stone-lantern lined streets, and even the melt-in-your-mouth wagyu beef. Working as a Japan Specialist is a dream come true for me, and I can’t wait to help you experience It for yourself.
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Q&A with Chris
What’s the best local dish you’ve tasted?
Wagyu beef is one of the most iconic and popular things to try while in Japan, but not everyone realizes that there are so many different options to try. While in the USA we are most familiar with Kobe Beef, in Japan, it is not considered to be the most desirable kind of Wagyu. In fact, most Japanese locals will prefer their local Wagyu over anything that’s famous worldwide. I recommend trying a little bit in every town you visit, as you are sure to find a kind that you will fall in love with. In the end it’s all incredible but the complexities of the local varieties are impossible to quantify.
What’s your most vivid travel moment?
I was hiking in Vatnajökull National Park in Iceland, surrounded by some of the most awe-inspiring mountains I had ever seen. The main draw of the park is the Vatnajökull Glacier, but I had seen enough glaciers from afar by that point to not be overly excited to see this one up close, after all, it’s only ice. Boy, was I wrong. As I reached the top of a hill that overlooked the glacier, I couldn’t help but gasp aloud at what I was seeing. Directly below me was a river of ice, as wide as a lake, miles long, and the most gorgeous blue/white color I had ever seen. As the glacier snaked down from the snowy peaks, it joined up with other surrounding glacier, before melting to water and slowly making its way to the ocean. I’ve never felt so small as I did, standing there in perfect solitude, just me and this amazing piece of nature. I can still see it when I close my eyes, and still feel that sense of being a part of something so much larger than myself.
Your best piece of travel advice?
My biggest tip for visiting Japan is to plan more than one night near Mt. Fuji. Many people want to see Japan’s most famous volcano, but the locals know that Fuji does not always cooperate with our intentions. The peak is often surrounded by cloud cover and nothing ruins a trip like travelling all the way there only to be disappointed. I therefore recommend at least two nights to give yourself the best chance at the perfect photo opp.